2015 – a year in running

So, 2015. The year I set myself the challenge of running at least 5km every day, aiming to hit 2,015km for the year. Also the year I joined Bristol and West Athletic Club and actually did some track sessions, and long run training with people instead of doing all of my runs on my own (excluding races).

April – a quiet month with mostly minimum distance runs and a rather hilly Frenchay 10k race which I got talked into running the day before after parkrun. It also saw the first week in which I did track sessions at both Whithall and Wise (something I hope to do more of in 2016). I set my first official (non parkrun) 5k time at Aztec West, taking a minute off my previous best over that distance. 206.94km run (853.02km).

August – marathon training began, but as the mileage increased (and I had to work out how to switch my Garmin into miles from km) I still managed to fit in a 5km race for the club as part of the Avon Road relay, picking up a medal for 3rd ladies team. There were also a couple of very early starts required in order to travel for the start of the Ashes tests at Trent Bridge (yes I was there) and the Oval. 317.63km run (1,904.36km).

September – the peak in my monthly mileage for the year and marathon training really kicked in. I still managed to set a new half marathon pb (not running flat out, so there is still room for improvement) at the Bristol half, as well as taking part in the Uphill to Wells relay and racing the first Weston Prom race of the winter series and the Mells Scenic 7 where Jim Plunkett-Cole (who spearheaded the 365 challenge) ran his 1,000th day of at least 10km. 421.52km run (2,325.88km).

October – marathon, marathon, marathon, and the small matter of the final exam of my OU degree. Before M day though there was time for another cross-country race for the club, the second Weston Prom race, and a virtual 5k race (the day before the big one, maybe not the best timing). But the 25th saw me undertake my longest run ever, with the hope of getting under 4 hours. I surprised everyone (myself especially) by coming home in a London marathon qualifying good-for-age time of 3:41:21 for my first ever marathon. 334.72km run (2,660.60km).

November – time to rest and recover after the Big One, but I still launched myself into the Sodbury Slog (once may well be enough for that race) and was back up to speed at the third of the Weston Prom races. With nothing specific to train for, boredom with running every day was starting to become an issue. I staved it off a little by working my way through the Welcome to Night Vale podcasts. 255.61km run (2,916.21km).